Very disappointing hotel, certainly not for the seasoned traveller, and completely misrepresented on the website. Alarm bells should have rung when we were asked to pay in full in advance (non refundable). The hotel looks beautiful on the website, with a lovely pool, grounds and gardens, and we were looking forward to spending the last leg of our holiday at Sicilia’s villa, relaxing in the grounds and garden. Instead we were taken to a hideous block of flats that does not feature on the website, and the promised views of the sea, countryside and especially of Etna, magically transformed into a horrible residential area, streets and car park. We refused the room immediately, reception promised us another room, but it was not available for another day, and having toured the grounds and finding one average sized pool, serving at least 3 buildings that was crowded and nowhere to sit, we refused to check in. Staff were not sympathetic, just saying you have already paid and we will not refund you. I got the impression it was a sketch that they have practised many times before. I was not going to spoil the last leg of my holiday and stay. We were then under pressure to find alternative accommodation at the last minute. Please see attached photos and CHECK GOOGLE EARTH for the location and the residential area before you book. The website is done beautifully but is completely misrepresentative. I had booked a superior double room with a view of Etna and was expecting to be in the grounds and garden of a lovely villa, not stuck in an apartment block. The staff refuse to communicate or refund my money on the basis of misrepresentation, I feel like I have been conned. Full marks for managing to make Etna disappear though.
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